Fall sports excitement underway

(Ed. Note: For the complete Deering-Scarborough boys’ soccer, Portland-Cheverus girls’ soccer and Cheverus-Westbrook field hockey game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

While it still (thankfully) feels like summer, the boys and girls of autumn are underway.

Most local teams have played at least one game and early indications are that it will be another season to remember.

While football’s opening weekend got plenty of attention (see story), there have already been some thrills in soccer, field hockey, volleyball, cross country and golf as well.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ soccer

Defending Class A champion Cheverus and longtime rival Portland squared off in the teams’ mutual regular season opener last Thursday. Both teams had their chances, but Stags goalkeeper Jake Tomkinson and Bulldogs keeper Bobby Brittingham were both on their game, each making clutch saves, and as a result, the teams settled for a 0-0 draw.

Cheverus was looking for its first win Tuesday, when it hosted Marshwood. Massabesic pays a visit Thursday and the Stags go to Westbrook Tuesday of next week.

Portland was at Noble Tuesday, looking to get in the win column and give longtime coach Rocco Frenzilli his 200th career triumph. The Bulldogs host Windham Friday and welcome Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week.

Deering had the daunting task of opening against perennial powerhouse Scarborough, last year’s nemesis, in a holiday special Monday evening. The Rams hoped to avenge last year’s playoff ouster and had some early chances, but gave the potent several set piece opportunities and the Red Storm converted four times to win, 4-0.

“It comes down to everything we worked on and everything we expected from Scarborough, the ability to draw fouls and get balls in the box and be athletic, and we didn’t do any of it,” said Deering coach Joel Costigan. “We have established defensive principles and our players didn’t stick with them. It’s not good defending. We can be the most skilled team in the conference, but we won’t win if we don’t do the simple things.”

Deering is back in action Wednesday when another top foe, South Portland, pays a visit. The Rams go to Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

Waynflete began its quest for a Class C title Tuesday at home versus Traip Academy. The Flyers welcome Fryeburg Academy Thursday and visit perennial power Falmouth Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ soccer

Portland’s girls’ soccer teams did some exciting things a year ago and the Bulldogs believe they’ll be a top contender again in 2015. Friday, Portland opened with a 4-1 win at Cheverus, thanks to goals from Gracie LaGrange, freshman Inez Braceras, Isabel Stehli and Kate Johnson.

“It was great to beat a city rival,” said Bulldogs senior Chessa Hoekstra, who had two assists. “It’s really good for our confidence. It’s always intense and physical when we play Cheverus. We matched that.”

Portland plays its first game at Fitzpatrick Stadium Wednesday when Noble pays a visit. Two-time defending Class A champion Windham, the team which vanquished the Bulldogs in the playoffs a year ago, is in town Friday.

“We’re working on connecting,” said Stehli. “Hopefully things will continue in a good way. We’re coming together. We’re all really looking forward to Windham. We know what we can do. We know what happened last year. We’ll keep practicing hard.”

In the loss, Cheverus got a goal from Katie Gordon.

“I thought we could put some pressure on them coming out in the second half,” Stags coach Craig Roberts said. “We had some chances. I thought we were nervous and tentative defensively, which we hadn’t been all preseason. They took advantage and counter-attacked. We have to play like we did in the second half for 80 minutes and continue on working the ball in the attacking third and finishing.”

Cheverus is back in action Wednesday at Marshwood. The Stags are at Massabesic Friday and host Westbrook Tuesday of next week.

“I think it will take a little while to get the girls to jell,” Roberts said. “We have to take that final step and capitalize on our chances. I think you’ll see that we’ll play a lot better as the season goes on.”

Deering gave host Scarborough a battle in its opener, falling, 2-1, on a late goal. The Rams’ goal came from Simone Lauture. Deering seeks its first victory Wednesday at South Portland. McAuley pays a visit Saturday and the Rams are home against Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

McAuley opened with a 13-1 home loss to Gorham. Catherine Reed had the Lions’ tally. McAuley hosts Bonny Eagle Wednesday, then goes to Deering Saturday and Sanford Tuesday of next week.

Waynflete opened at Traip Academy Tuesday. After going to Fryeburg Academy Friday, the Flyers play their home opener Tuesday of next week versus Falmouth.

Field hockey

Cheverus and Portland’s field hockey teams both got off to hot starts.

The Stags welcomed Westbrook in the opener last Wednesday. Hannah Abbott produced a 1-0 lead early in the second half, but the Blue Blazes drew even. The game would go to overtime, where Becca Archer won it, 2-1.

“I was at the right place and the right time and I finished it,” said Archer. “It felt amazing.”

“It’s hard in overtime,” senior captain Colleen Slattery said. “You know you have to give 100 percent. You have to get back and fight every minute out there.”

“It was nice to see us finish the job,” Cheverus coach Amy Ashley added. “It’s always fun to play Westbrook. They’re very athletic and they always bring their ‘A’ game.”

Friday, the Stags improved to 2-0 with a 1-0 win at Windham. Abbott’s second half goal was the difference.

Cheverus was home against South Portland Tuesday, visits Thornton Academy Thursday and hosts Sanford Monday.

Portland won its first game, 3-0, at Noble, as standout Lauren McIntyre had all three goals. Friday, the Bulldogs made it two in a row with a 3-0 home win over Biddeford, as McIntyre scored twice more and Taylor Sargent also rattled the cage. Portland was at Marshwood Tuesday, welcomes Massabesic Saturday and plays at Deering Monday.

Speaking of the Rams, they dropped their first outing, 4-0, to visiting Thornton Academy, then evened their record at 1-1 Friday with a 1-0 overtime victory at Westbrook, thanks to Kerry Wells’ goal. Deering was home against defending Class A champion Scarborough Tuesday, goes to South Portland Thursday and plays host to Portland Monday.

The first-year McAuley/Waynflete co-op team, the CMW Flying Lions, began their season Tuesday at home versus Sacopee Valley. The Flying Lions welcome North Yarmouth Academy Saturday (the game will be played at Waynflete) and Gray-New Gloucester Monday (that game will be played at McAuley) and play at Old Orchard Beach Monday.

Volleyball

The big news in the volleyball world was the varsity debut of Deering and Portland.

The teams squared off Friday at Deering and the Rams enjoyed a 3-0 victory (25-15, 25-5, 25-14). Deering hoped to go 2-0 when it hosted Lake Region Tuesday. The Rams are at Bonny Eagle Thursday and visit NYA Tuesday of next week.

The Bulldogs sought their first varsity win when they hosted Bonny Eagle Tuesday. After going to Wells Thursday and South Portland Saturday, Portland visits Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus began with a 3-0 home loss to Windham. The Stags were at South Portland Tuesday, visit Thornton Academy Thursday and host Mt. Desert Island Saturday and two-time defending Class B champion Yarmouth Tuesday of next week.

Cross country

The cross country regular season begins this Friday, as Cheverus joins Marshwood and South Portland at Windham, Deering runs with Noble and Westbrook at Gorham, McAuley joins Sanford and Thornton Academy at Bonny Eagle. Portland runs with Biddeford and Massabesic at Scarborough and Waynflete (along with Traip and Wells) is at Lake Region.

Golf

Not much was expected of Deering’s golf team coming into the season, but the Rams have been a pleasant surprise, beating South Portland in the opener, 8-5, then pushing Falmouth in a 9.5-3.5 loss.

Cheverus impressed in its first two matches, defeating Portland (8.5-4.5) and downing defending Class A state champion Scarborough by a 10.5-2.5 margin. The Stags were home against perennial powerhouse Falmouth Tuesday.

Deering junior goalkeeper Orey Dutton dives on the ball before Scarborough senior Jacob McGarvey can finish during the teams’ regular season opener Monday. The Rams lost in a playoff rematch with the Red Storm, 4-0.

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Sports Editor of The Forecaster since 2001.
Find detailed game stories at theforecaster.net.
I tweet prodigiously at @foresports.